The Institute of Nursing Research

Doctoral Studies

One of the aims of the Institute of Nursing Research is to train high calibre researchers who can work independently and who can contribute towards the advancement of knowledge in nursing and in delivery of health Services. We offer excellent supervision and support. Our staff are well known researchers and teachers who have considerable experience in supervising at doctoral and post-doctoral level. Nursing supervisors work jointly, where appropriate, with staff from relevant professions and disciplines with the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences, in particular, and from other Faculties in the University of Ulster. Below is a list of our current doctoral supervisors and their areas of expertise.

Research Facilities

There is excellent infrastructure of supervision and support for students both off and on campus. The Research Graduate School in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences overviews, supports and monitors postgraduate research education in the Faculty. It is responsible for ensuring high quality supervision. One of the key roles of the Research Graduate School is to organise student conferences, usually at three crucial points during the doctoral programme (at three months, at the end of the first year and prior to submission of the thesis). Regular seminars are also organised by the School of Nursing at which staff and students present their research and discuss methodological and other issues. The emphasis is on promoting a culture which values research.

The Institute of Nursing Research at the University of Ulster provides a unique experience for doctoral students who wish to develop their research skills and knowledge in order to make a significant contribution to knowledge in their chosen fields.

Within the Institute of Nursing Research there are four Research Centres:

In addition, the Institute of Nursing Research is supporting the development of programmes of research in mental health nursing (as part of a University-wide development in mental health research), nursing education and health promotion.  The purpose of the centres and evolving programmes is for members to focus on their selected areas of expertise and to support each other, share ideas and resources in order to promote research in their fields, locally, nationally and internationally.  MPhil and PhD supervisors are drawn mainly from these groups. We invite applicants to make contact with the relevant Centre leader if they want to discuss a project for their study.

The Research Centre leaders are:

Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Leader: Professor Roy McConkey, Family support services, Evaluations of services, Enhancing communication with adult persons with learning disabilities, Community perceptions and reactions to disability, Staff roles and training needs.
Profile & Contact Details>>

Managing Chronic Illness
Leader: Professor Vivien Coates, Self management of diabetes mellitus, People’s management of chronic illness in general Research relating to nurse education
Profile & Contact Details>>

Maternal, Fetal and Infant Research
Leader: Professor Helen Dolk, Epidemiology, Womens health, Congential abnormalities
Profile & Contact Details>>

Person-centred Practice Research Centre
Leader: Professor Brendan McCormack, Care of older people, Patient-centred care, Practice development.
Profile & Contact Details>>

Staff and Research Areas

Prof O Barr
Physical and mental health of people with learning disabilities, Attitudes towards people with learning disabilities, Community care, The role of genetics in health care.
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr R Baxter, rcs.baxter@ulster.ac.uk
Children’s nursing, Medical ethics and law

Dr P Black, p.black@ulster.ac.uk
Critical Care, ICU delirium, family involvement in care

Dr Wendy Cousins
Health Psychology, Children and Young People, Organizational communication, Mental Health, Qualitative Methodologies
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr D Fitzsimons
Needs of patients awaiting coronary artery bypass surgery, Cardiac rehabilitation, Quality of life in patients with heart disease
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr P Gillen
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr S Keeney
Cancer Prevention, Attitudes to Cancer, Suicide and Self Harm, the Delphi Technique and Consensus Methodologies
Profile & Contact Details>>

Professor G Kernohan
Evidence-based practice, Quantitative, cost-effective and health systems analysis, Health informatics and expert systems
Profile & Contact Details>>

Professor T McCance
Person-centred nursing/practice, practice development research, nursing outcome indicators, caring in nursing
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr E McCaughan
Needs assessment in cancer care, Gender issues in cancer, Evaluation of nursing interventions.
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr H McGarvey, h.mcgarvey@ulster.ac.uk
Preoperative nursing and the care of patients undergoing surgery, Therapeutic value of nursing, Telematics applications in nursing

Dr S McIlfatrick
District nursing, Cancer, Palliative care
Profile & Contact Details>>

Professor H McKenna
Health Care Policy, Nursing and midwifery workforce, Theory generation and testing, Primary care research
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr C McLaughlin, c.mclaughlin@ulster.ac.uk
Addictions, Suicide, Social skills and counselling

Dr D McLaughlin, df.mclaughlin@ulster.ac.uk
Mental health, Addictions

Dr O McNally, o.mcnally@ulster.ac.uk
Biology, Student learning, E-learning

Dr V Melby, v.melby@ulster.ac.uk
Emergency care, vulnerable people

Dr A Moore, ab.moore@ulster.ac.uk
Health and well-being across the life span. Health promotion theory, practice, planning and management. Health needs assessment

Professor K Parahoo
Research/evidence dissemination and utilisation, Evaluation of interventions, Risk taking behaviours
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr A Ryan
Gerontological nursing and the care of older people,  family caregiving, community care for older people,  impact of entry to care on older people and their families, health and social care in rural areas.
Profile & Contact Details>>

Prof M Sinclair
Midwifery, Birth technology, Evidence-based practice
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr P Slater
Psychological Disorders, Older People and Assessment, Research Methods and Statistics, Health Psychology.
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr E Slevin
Challenging behaviour and people with learning disabilities, Travel and use of transport by people with learning disabilities, Multi-sensory environments – therapeutic value
Profile & Contact Details>>

Dr O Slevin, od.slevin@ulster.ac.uk
Mental health nursing, Care of older people, Evidence-based quality assurance in education

Dr L Taggart
Mental health and people with learning disability, Assessment, treatment and management evaluation of people with learning disabilities, Service provision development, Alcohol use and people with learning disabilities
Profile & Contact Details>>

Please contact any of the staff above directly if you want to discuss a project for study.

Postgraduate Tutor

Dr Sonja McIlfatrick, postgraduate tutor, is responsible for assisting prospective students with their research proposals. She allocates supervisors and monitors students’ progress.
Profile & Contact Details>>